NOI narrative_rev03252020 NOTICE OF INTENT
DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS ON LOUDVILLE ROAD AND MEADOW STREET
NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS
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1 INTRODUCTION
The City of Northampton Department of Public Works (DPW) proposes to make drainage improvements
and replace guardrails and shoulders as part of more extensive repaving projects on two roadways – Loudville
Road and Meadow Street. The proposed work on Loudville Road includes repairs to a culvert headwall,
installation of an inlet feature, creation of a grassed swale, installation of subdrain and replacement of
concrete and cable structures with guardrail. Work is proposed to take place in Inland Bank, Bordering Land
Subject to Flooding (BLSF), and Riverfront Area (RFA) associated with the Manhan River and tributaries to
the Manhan River. The Manhan River is a Coldwater Fishery.
The Meadow Street project involves adding crushed stone shoulders, installing one catch basin, adding paved
parking spaces along the road, adding one stone trench to attenuate additional stormwater runoff and
replacing portions of sidewalk. Work is proposed within the following resource areas: Bordering Land
Subject to Flooding and Riverfront Area associated with the Mill River. A portion of the project lies within
Priority Habitat for Endangered Species (PH 2064) and Estimated Habitat for Endangered Species associated
with the Mill River. Work proposed for this area is exempt from MESA review per 21 CMR 10.14(7) and 21
CMR 10.14(12) A copy of this Notice of Intent was sent to the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species
Program per section 10.59 of the Wetland Protection Act. The Mill River is a Coldwater Fishery.
Paving work is also proposed on Atwood Drive and Hayes Avenue in Northampton. Atwood Drive is
located within Bordering Land Subject to Flooding of the Connecticut River and a small portion of the
eastern end of Hayes Avenue is situated within the 100 foot buffer of Bordering Vegetated Wetland. The re-
paving work and replacement of water pipes proposed in these areas is authorized under the City’s General
Order of Conditions. No further discussion of this work is included in this Notice of Intent application.
2 PROPOSED PROJECT
This Notice of Intent application seeks authorization to conduct work within resource areas at two different
project locations. The first project involves repaving a portion of Loudville Road that is located within
Northampton (2,457 lf). The second project includes repaving Meadow Street from its intersection with
Spring Street to the parking lot of the Lilly Library (2,700 lf). Ongoing drainage issues along both of these
roads has led to deteriorated pavement conditions. To address these issues on Loudville Road, the DPW
proposes to install subdrain along 918 lf of roadway, install one new catch basin inlet, replace one drainage
culvert, install crushed stone shoulders along 1,044 lf of roadway and make repairs to existing culverts, pipes
and other features within the right-of-way. Much of Loudville Road is situated near the North Branch of the
Manhan River, and as such, some of the proposed work is located within Bordering Land Subject to Flooding
and Riverfront Area. Additional work includes replacing concrete and cable structures with guardrail along
397 lf and adding a grassed swale adjacent to a catch basin. Proposed work on Meadow Street includes
replacing one catch basin within the roadway, adding crushed stone shoulders along 3,063 lf of roadway,
replacing sidewalk and curbing and adding nine parking spaces along the south side of the roadway near the
community garden. To attenuate increased runoff from these parking spaces, one 200 sf infiltration trench is
also proposed proximate to the new parking areas.
In accordance with 310 CMR 10.02 (2)(b)(2)(p) and Category II of the DPW’s General Order of Conditions
for Routine Maintenance and Repair Activities (GOOC), minor activities including “[p]avement repair,
resurfacing, and reclamation of existing roadways within the right-of-way configuration provided that the
roadway and shoulders are not widened, no staging or stockpiling of materials, all disturbed road shoulders
are stabilized within 72 hours of completion of the resurfacing or reclamation, and no work on the drainage
system is performed, other than adjustments and/or repairs to respective structures (e.g., curbing) within the
roadway” that occur within Riverfront Area and resource area buffers is exempt from filing a Notice of
NOTICE OF INTENT
DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS ON LOUDVILLE ROAD AND MEADOW STREET
NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS
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Intent. This General Order of Conditions also exempts the following work within Riverfront Area and Buffer
zone areas: road and utility line maintenance and installation and repair of signs. The Northampton Wetland
Ordinance also states in § 337-4 that “the application and permit required by this chapter shall not be
required for detention basins, catch basins, manholes, and dropped inlets that discharge into an existing
pipe.”
While much of the proposed work is exempt from filing a Notice of Intent, there are several activities that
require either notification to the Northampton Conservation Commission (per the GOOC) or filing of a
Notice of Intent. The installation of subdrains within Loudville Road and Meadow Street requires the DPW
to notify the Conservation Commission under Category V of the GOOC. Repairs to the culvert headwall
near St 16+00 and the addition of rockfill and a paved apron within RFA and Inland Bank buffer near this
same culvert also require notification to the Conservation Commission as Category V activities of the
GOOC. Work to replace 357 lf of cable and concrete structures with guardrail within RFA is authorized as a
Category IV activity under the GOOC. The following work on Loudville Road requires a Notice of Intent:
installation of a grassed swale in BLSF and RFA, placement of rock within Inland Bank adjacent to the
culvert near St 16+00, addition of dense-grade crushed stone shoulders within BLSF and RFA. The following
work requires a Notice of Intent for work on Meadow Street: addition of nine parking spaces within BLSF,
addition of one stone trench in BLSF, and addition of crushed stone shoulders. Work to install or repair
underground utilities within the roadway is exempt under Category I of the GOOC. This project qualifies as a
Limited Project per 310 CMR 10.53(3)(f) for the “maintenance and improvement of existing public roadways,
but limited to widening less than a single lane, adding shoulders, correcting substandard intersections, and
improving inadequate drainage systems.” Therefore, the project does not need to fully comply with the
General Performance Standards in 310 CMR 10.54 through 10.58.
Currently, Loudville Road and Meadow Street have soft shoulders along portions of the roadway, which lead
to pavement deterioration at the road edge. Dense-grade crushed stone is proposed along the road edge,
where feasible, to provide stability to the pavement and also to reduce erosion along the edge of the road.
Stormwater improvements (e.g, swale creation) within BLSF will improve the quality of runoff from the
roadway. Lastly, nine paved parking spaces are proposed on the south side of Meadow Street to alleviate
erosion issues associated with cars parking on unpaved areas along Meadow Street. One large stone
infiltration trench is proposed adjacent to the new parking areas to attenuate the additional stormwater runoff
from the increased paved area within BLSF.
2.1 WETLAND IMPACTS
Bordering Vegetated Wetland (BVW) and Inland Bank (IB) resource areas were delineated in the field by
DPW Sr. Environmental Planner Johanna Stacy in March 2020. Bordering Land Subject to Flooding was
delineated using georeferenced FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Riverfront Area and Priority Habitat for
Endangered Species boundaries were derived from MassGIS datalayers. Wetland impacts are described
separately for each project location.
Loudville Road
The southern portion of Loudville Road is situated within Bordering Land Subject to Flooding and
Riverfront Area of the Manhan River. An intermittent stream runs easterly along the driveway of house #45
in Westhampton, flows along the road and passes through a culvert to drain to the river. This stream also
accepts untreated roadway runoff. A small area of BVW was delineated along this stream (wetland flags W-1
to W-5). The inlet is adjacent to the road but does not have a cover. For safety reasons, a new catch basin
inlet is proposed to stabilize the pipe end and an inlet cover is also proposed. Curbing is proposed in this area
to re-direct road drainage away from the stream and towards the catch basin near St 2+00, so that runoff is
treated before being discharged. Subdrain within the roadway is also proposed for this area.
NOTICE OF INTENT
DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS ON LOUDVILLE ROAD AND MEADOW STREET
NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS
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Riverfront Area associated with a perennial tributary to the Manhan River also occurs between St 16+00 and
18+50. Inland Bank associated with this stream was delineated near the headwalls of the inlet and outlet. The
base of both headwalls have been scoured by the stream and flow from the stream passes around the pipe
itself. DPW proposes to patch these headwalls with hydraulic concrete and to place large (12-18”) pieces of
stone along the Bank adjacent to the inlet and outlet headwalls to prevent future erosion. (Stone proposed on
the downstream side may facilitate wildlife passage and address the 6” perch that currently exists.)
Riverfront Area also covers the northern portion of the proposed project. Approximately 918 lf of subdrain
is proposed within the paved road. Dense-grade crushed stone is proposed beneath the guardrail and along
the road shoulder (1,044 lf in total). A new deep sump catch basin is proposed near St 25+00 along with a
new culvert inlet, catch basin inlet and riprap around these features. This work should improve water quality
of runoff before it is discharged towards the Manhan River. Another drainage culvert located near St 29+00
is proposed for replacement. A deep sump catch basin is also proposed within the roadway to pre-treat
roadway runoff before it runs through the pipe and under the roadway. Existing concrete and cable guards
that occur along the roadway will be replaced with 397 lf of guardrail. Subdrain and crushed stone shoulders
are also proposed along the roadway within this portion of Riverfront Area.
i. Compliance with Performance Standards
Bordering Land Subject to Flooding - Performance standards for BLSF include providing compensatory storage
for flood volumes lost as a result of the project, avoiding activities that increase flood stage and velocity, and
preservation of wildlife habitat. Proposed work to install dense-grade crushed stone will involve removal of
6” of soil along the edge of the road before the stone is placed in order to maintain the existing flood storage
capacity. Work that might increase flood stage or velocity is not proposed and areas to be altered are adjacent
to the roadway and already degraded, so that wildlife habitat is not altered.
Riverfront Area - Performance standards for redevelopment work in Riverfront Areas include improving the
existing conditions, providing for stormwater, and limiting new work closer to the river. Also, the proposed
work area shall not increase the amount of degraded area on the site. Proposed work within the road and the
road edges will not increase the degraded area. Improvements to drainage structures and road shoulders is
intended to reduce erosion from currently bare soil and to provide additional treatment to stormwater runoff.
Inland Bank - Performance standards for Bank include maintaining the physical stability of the Bank,
maintaining the carrying capacity of the channel, and ensuring the “capacity of the Bank to provide important
wildlife habitat functions.” The small area of stone proposed near the culvert headwalls is similar to the
existing small boulders found along this bank of this stream. The stones should improve the stability of the
Bank in this location and they could improve habitat functions in that they facilitate wildlife access to the
perched culvert.
Table 1. Summary of Wetland Impacts
Resource Alteration Replication
Bordering Land Subject
to Flooding (BLSF)
500 sf 500 sf
Inland Bank 6 lf 6 lf
Meadow Street
Much of the Meadow Street project lies within Bordering Land Subject to Flooding (BLSF) associated with
the Mill River. A portion of the project area also lies within Riverfront Area. No Bordering Vegetated
Wetlands were identified within the proposed work area and no work is proposed within the waterway or on
Inland Bank associated with the river.
NOTICE OF INTENT
DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS ON LOUDVILLE ROAD AND MEADOW STREET
NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS
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Resource area impacts include alteration of approximately 1,920 sf of Bordering Land Subject to Flooding for
creation of paved parking areas adjacent to the roadway. One 200 sf stone trench is proposed adjacent to
these parking areas to provide compensatory infiltration. Crushed stone shoulders are also proposed along
3,063 lf of the roadway. Sidewalks will be replaced in-kind so as not to increase the area of impervious
surface.
A 200 ft Riverfront Area exists on both sides of the Mill River, which covers 33,534 sf of the project area.
Much of this area overlaps with Priority Habitat for Endangered Species (PH 2064). Work proposed within
this area includes replacing 396 linear feet of sidewalk, replacing curbing and drainpipes within the roadway.
This work is presumed to be exempt from MESA Review per 321 CMR 10.14(12) for “maintenance, repair or
replacement, but not widening, of existing roads, shoulder repair that not exceed four feet from an existing
travel lane…” and 321 CMR 10.14(6) for the “construction, repair, replacement, or maintenance of septic
systems…utility lines, sewer lines, or residential water supply wells within existing paved areas.” No additional
impervious area is proposed within the RFA. Crushed stone installed beneath the guardrail near St 18+00
within RFA and BLSF serves to prevent pavement deterioration and also reduce the flow velocity of roadway
runoff.
i. Compliance with Performance Standards
Bordering Land Subject to Flooding – Performance standards for BLSF include providing compensatory storage
for lost flood volumes, ensuring that proposed work does not affect flood stage or velocity. Work proposed
in areas that provide significant habitat functions should not impair those functions. The addition of road
shoulders and parking areas within the right-of-way are proposed for areas that are already disturbed by
vehicular traffic and foot traffic. Both areas contain mown grass and wildlife habitat functions of these areas
are limited. Increased runoff from the impervious area created by nine new parking spaces is attenuated by a
nearby stone trench. The trench was designed to infiltrate all of the new impervious area (per Stormwater
Standard 3). Stormwater calculations for the parking areas are provided in Appendix C.
Riverfront Area - The work proposed to take place within Riverfront Area is not expected to significantly affect
the function of this resource area to provide flood control, prevent storm damage and protect riparian
habitat. As a redevelopment project, this project should improve existing conditions, conform to Stormwater
Standards, refrain from locating development closer to the river than existing, and not increase the amount of
degraded area. The proposed work is located within areas that are already paved or are directly adjacent to
paved areas and thus already degraded. The proposed work is intended to improve the existing condition of
roadside areas and to mitigate the impacts of stormwater runoff through the addition of crushed stone
shoulders. Less than 10% of the Riverfront Area present on site is proposed to be altered with most of the
proposed work occurring outside of the 100 ft RFA.
Table 2. Summary of Wetland Impacts
Resource Alteration Replication
BLSF 8,046 sf 8,046 sf
(In-Situ Replication)
3 ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS
The proximity of both Loudville Road and Meadow Street to major rivers means that road maintenance and
construction activities have the potential to affect Bordering Land Subject to Flooding and Riverfront Area.
The drainage and shoulder work proposed in this application are designed to improve the existing conditions
by reducing erosion that currently occurs along road edges and improving stormwater treatment. Dense-grade